Matt McLain's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that second baseman Matt McLain (shoulder) and outfielder Jake Fraley (groin) should both be fine. McLain was scratched from Monday's Cactus League lineup due to left-shoulder soreness, while Fraley was removed from the game early after fouling a pitch off a sensitive area. McLain is scheduled to be back in the spring lineup on Wednesday, but the Reds may give him another day just to be safe. The 24-year-old has played in just five Cactus League games this spring due to an oblique injury that he also dealt with last year. But he should be ready for Opening Day on March 28 and is going to be the Reds' starting second baseman. Fraley has mixed-league value in the strong-side of a platoon because he mashes right-handers.

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (shoulder) was scratched from Monday night's Cactus League game versus the San Francisco Giants for precautionary reasons with left-shoulder soreness. It doesn't sound like a serious injury, but it's something to watch after McLain also missed time earlier this spring due to an oblique injury that cut his rookie season short in 2023. Health issues aside, the 24-year-old earned the right to open the 2024 campaign as Cincy's starting second baseman after hitting .290/.357/.507 with an .864 OPS, 16 home runs, 50 RBI and 14 stolen bases in his first 89 major-league games a season ago. The former first-round pick in 2021 out of UCLA is RotoBaller's No. 7 ranked fantasy second baseman, but injuries are becoming a concern. If McLain is forced to open the year on the injured list, Jonathan India could fill in at the keystone.

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (oblique) said Tuesday that he will "totally" be ready to start the 2024 regular season healthy after missing most of spring training with an oblique injury. The 24-year-old, who made his Cactus League debut on Sunday, has the support of manager David Bell, who said Tuesday, "I am confident he will be ready to go." McLain will look to pick up where he left off in 2023, when he slashed .290/.357/.507 with 16 home runs, 65 runs scored, 50 RBI, and 14 stolen bases in 403 plate appearances.

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (oblique) made his spring debut on Sunday in a 5-3 Cactus League win over the Guardians. The 24-year-old had been battling an oblique injury this spring but made the start and batted third in the Reds lineup, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout. He's looking to build off a solid 2023 season where he put up a .290-16-50-65-14 line in 403 plate appearances. ATC projections see him as a multi-category contributor again, forecasting a .258-22-73-80-20 line with a .343 WOBA and 110 wRC+. RotoBaller ranks him at 74 overall, a little behind his NFBC ADP of 62 overall.

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (oblique) is back in team workouts in camp on Monday, and manager David Bell said that McLain could make his Cactus League debut this week. McLain's right oblique ended his rookie season early in 2023, and he's been held back in spring training with more issues in the same oblique. However, it looks as though he's making nice progress and will attempt to test his oblique out in spring games this week. If he can avoid anymore setbacks, McLain could be ready for Opening Day in late March. Still, the Reds aren't going to rush their primary second baseman along if he's not ready. RotoBaller has McLain ranked as the No. 5 fantasy second baseman entering 2024 after the former first-rounder thoroughly impressed last year with a .290/.357/.507 slash line, an .864 OPS, 16 homers, 50 RBI and 14 stolen bases in his rookie campaign.